FABULOUS TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD PRESENTED BY THE FREED SLAVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEN. RUFUS SAXTON.

FABULOUS TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD PRESENTED BY THE FREED SLAVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEN. RUFUS SAXTON. This sword came from direct descendants of Gen. Rufus Saxton before arriving in the Hoffman Collection and being offered here. This magnificent Tiffany General Officer’s sword was given Gen. Saxton on the one year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jan. 1, 1863 and reads as follows, “To Brig. Gen’l R. Saxton. MILITARY GOVERNOR as a testimonial of the Freedman of the Dept of the South for his sacrifices and labors to secure their liberty, protection and elevation. Beaufort S. C. Jany 1st. 1864”. The sword is a beautiful Tiffany signed cruciform shape with silver chain hand guard and silver clam shell guard. The pommel consists of an ornate pedestal with a Heraldic gargoyle style full form eagle sitting atop. The cross guard ends in similar shaped pine cone finials. The ornate silver clam shell guard is decorated in oak leaves and acorns with the Latin motto “DEO PATRIAE TIBI” which translates “To thee, for God and our country”. This motto was suggested by the father of the slain martyr Col. Robert Shaw who was killed leading his black regiment; the 54th Mass at Fort Wagner. The grip is fluted silver. The 32″ Tiffany signed blade is in beautiful condition retaining most of its original frost and gold decoration, various panoplies of arms, floral motifs, script “US”, a full standing Ancient Horseman wearing feathered hat, sword and halbred decorates one side of blade where a full standing enlisted Civil War soldier holding an American flag decorates the other. The German silver scabbard which has the Tiffany plaque is decorated with gilted brass mounts that are fully engraved with various military and patriotic motifs. The sword is presented in a large engraved panel on the gilted German silver scabbard between the top two mounts. This sword was presented in an elaborate ceremony attended by thousands in Beaufort, SC. Gen. Saxton stated upon acceptance “This weapon suits me well…I accept this beautiful sword, the gift of freed men, with a solemn determination to wear it in your cause, the cause of freedom, until every slave is made as free as you are today; until the President’s Emancipation Proclamation shall have become a living reality throughout the length and breadth of our land; until glad shouts shall ascend from every cabin in the sunny South “WE ARE FREE”….stand firm,..it is god’s holy warfare we are waging, stand firm and never ground your arms until the Union is restored and your race is free. Then lay them down in peace and I will place this sword among my jewels.” Rufus Saxton, a Massachusetts native, was a lifelong military man and graduated near the top of his class at West Point in 1849. He served his country well through the Seminole Indian Wars and Mexican Wars. Gen. Saxton was among the very first to organize troops of African descent, originally blacks were only used in the Army for labor, Gen. Saxton petitioned for black soldiers to fight as soldiers. Gen. Saxton also won our country’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor for distinguished gallantry in the defense of Harper’s Ferry, VA in May, 1862. Saxton remained in the Army until his retirement in 1888. Saxton today is honored with a large private memorial in Arlington National Cemetery where he is interred. A file of provenance accompanies this sword. PROVENANCE: Kevin Hoffman Collection. CONDITION: This sword is in fine “attic” condition. This sword has not been cleaned, probably not since the war. The blade, protected by the scabbard, is in excellent condition with only a few minor stains and some loss of gold. The etching retains most of its original frost. Metal surfaces of scabbard and hilt have rich, uncleaned patina on silver and on brass. All markings are crisp and very well defined as are all engraved surfaces. There is one minor bend in grip, near pommel that does not effect aesthetics of sword. Much of the external surfaces are soiled from possible old coat of varnish. 4-46900 JS77 (80,000-90,000)

Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012

Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

Image	Lot	Price	Description
	2008	$0.00	FABULOUS TIFFANY PRESENTATION SWORD PRESENTED BY THE FREED SLAVES OF SOUTH CAROLINA TO GEN. RUFUS SAXTON. This sword came from direct descendants of Gen. Rufus Saxton before arriving in the Hoffman Collection and being offered here. This magnificent Tiffany General Officer’s sword was given Gen. Saxton on the one year anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, Jan. 1, 1863 and reads as follows, “To Brig. Gen’l R. Saxton. MILITARY GOVERNOR as a testimonial of the Freedman of the Dept of the South for his sacrifices and labors to secure their liberty, protection and elevation. Beaufort S. C. Jany 1st. 1864”. The sword is a beautiful Tiffany signed cruciform shape with silver chain hand guard and silver clam shell guard. The pommel consists of an ornate pedestal with a Heraldic gargoyle style full form eagle sitting atop. The cross guard ends in similar shaped pine cone finials. The ornate silver clam shell guard is decorated in oak leaves and acorns with the Latin motto “DEO PATRIAE TIBI” which translates “To thee, for God and our country”. This motto was suggested by the father of the slain martyr Col. Robert Shaw who was killed leading his black regiment; the 54th Mass at Fort Wagner. The grip is fluted silver. The 32″ Tiffany signed blade is in beautiful condition retaining most of its original frost and gold decoration, various panoplies of arms, floral motifs, script “US”, a full standing Ancient Horseman wearing feathered hat, sword and halbred decorates one side of blade where a full standing enlisted Civil War soldier holding an American flag decorates the other. The German silver scabbard which has the Tiffany plaque is decorated with gilted brass mounts that are fully engraved with various military and patriotic motifs. The sword is presented in a large engraved panel on the gilted German silver scabbard between the top two mounts. This sword was presented in an elaborate ceremony attended by thousands in Beaufort, SC. Gen. Saxton stated upon acceptance “This weapon suits me well…I accept this beautiful sword, the gift of freed men, with a solemn determination to wear it in your cause, the cause of freedom, until every slave is made as free as you are today; until the President’s Emancipation Proclamation shall have become a living reality throughout the length and breadth of our land; until glad shouts shall ascend from every cabin in the sunny South “WE ARE FREE”….stand firm,..it is god’s holy warfare we are waging, stand firm and never ground your arms until the Union is restored and your race is free. Then lay them down in peace and I will place this sword among my jewels.” Rufus Saxton, a Massachusetts native, was a lifelong military man and graduated near the top of his class at West Point in 1849. He served his country well through the Seminole Indian Wars and Mexican Wars. Gen. Saxton was among the very first to organize troops of African descent, originally blacks were only used in the Army for labor, Gen. Saxton petitioned for black soldiers to fight as soldiers. Gen. Saxton also won our country’s highest award, the Congressional Medal of Honor for distinguished gallantry in the defense of Harper’s Ferry, VA in May, 1862. Saxton remained in the Army until his retirement in 1888. Saxton today is honored with a large private memorial in Arlington National Cemetery where he is interred. A file of provenance accompanies this sword. PROVENANCE: Kevin Hoffman Collection. CONDITION: This sword is in fine “attic” condition. This sword has not been cleaned, probably not since the war. The blade, protected by the scabbard, is in excellent condition with only a few minor stains and some loss of gold. The etching retains most of its original frost. Metal surfaces of scabbard and hilt have rich, uncleaned patina on silver and on brass. All markings are crisp and very well defined as are all engraved surfaces. There is one minor bend in grip, near pommel that does not effect aesthetics of sword. Much of the external surfaces are soiled from possible old coat of varnish. 4-46900 JS77 (80,000-90,000) Auction: Firearms - Fall 2012 Please Note: All prices include the hammer price plus the buyer’s premium, which is paid by the buyer as part of the purchase price. The prices noted here after the auction are considered unofficial and do not become official until after the 46th day.

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